If you find yourself taking care of a parent, grandparent, or other loved one, you know it’s a full-time job that never has a dull moment. Between caring for your loved one, working, and taking care of your home and family, it’s easy to get burnt out.
In situations like these, it’s easy to get frustrated or tired. You can forget important duties needed to take care of your family member.
If you need extra help and don’t want your family member to go to a nursing home, consider in-home care. Learn more about why this is the best option and how having a second caregiver in the home can prevent elder abuse from occurring.
Struggles of Family Caregivers
If you’re caring for a loved one in your home, you’re juggling managing your own life and ensuring that their needs get met. If you’re caring for children and parents in the same household, this adds to your stress and leaves you feeling torn.
In situations such as these you might find yourself:
- Working
- Managing the house
- Caring for pets
- Preparing meals, likely more than one depending on dietary needs
- Managing children’s school needs, such as performances, sports, homework
Doing all these things on a daily basis (or even several days throughout the week) leaves you with little time for yourself. This results in you feeling overtired, frustrated and stuck in a cycle where you’re not getting the help you need.
In a situation like these, it’s easy to get frustrated and lash out at the family. For the older person you care for, this can make them feel scared or as though they’re burdening you.
If they’re experiencing dementia or other problems, they’ll get confused easily and perhaps not even know who they are. This makes for a difficult situation as you attempt to make your life a balancing act that’s almost impossible to juggle.
Troubles with Neglect
When you’re trying to balance everything yourself, it’s hard to ensure that a day’s work gets done when it’s supposed to. This means you forget a meal, forget to pass out medication or miss a doctor’s appointment.
Research shows that getting stressed out causes people to feel anxious, thereby reducing their ability to perform at their best.
Sometimes instances with elder abuse start when the caregiver begins forgetting little things. This can make the illness or problem worse, making it harder for you to take care of your loved one.
If you stay at home while your spouse works, they’re likely just as tired themselves, and unable to provide you with all the assistance you need. Eventually, your frustration with the declining situation can cause you to lose your patience.
Rather than allow your problem to develop this far, it’s important to seek help and intervention early on. Getting a caregiver who comes to your house and offers you a break makes a huge difference in your ability to function properly.
You’ll have an opportunity to get time for yourself without worrying about your loved one. Your caregiver can report any changes they notice in your loved one that you haven’t picked up on. When you’re already feeling overwhelmed and stressed, little signs commonly get overlooked.
Give yourself a break and have a caregiver help you care for your family member.
In-Home Care Allows Individuals to Create a Routine That Works for Them
Smiling nurse provides in-home care for an old woman
Getting someone to provide in-home care for your family member makes it easier to create a routine that works for you.
If you normally go to your loved one’s house, you may already find it difficult to manage time and make sure you’re visiting them often enough. When they live at home with you, it seems like it’s impossible to get a minute to yourself.
When you choose to have a caregiver come over, you can create a schedule that meets your needs.
That means having the caregiver come over for one hour on Monday while you take a walk. Perhaps the next day you get a three-hour break while you grocery shop and grab a quiet meal with your children.
By arranging time in advance, you can plan what days you’ll need respite care. This allows you to create a schedule that best serves your needs, allowing you to maximize your time when it comes to catching a break.
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
When your loved one has dementia, Alzheimer’s or another illness that causes them to forget who they are and what’s going on. Caring for them during this time gets overwhelming.
It’s hard to enjoy the last years of their life if you’re always worried about taking proper care of them or avoiding inevitable frustration.
When you have someone help you with daily tasks associated with caregiving, you’ll get a chance to step back and reflect on your relationship. This means taking time out to do an activity with your loved one, even if it’s as simple as reading a book together.
Care in-home means you get to focus on your relationship together, rather than feeling forced to constantly perform caregiving activities. This allows you to remember your time together in a peaceful and happy way.
Get Help from In-Home Care
When taking care of a friend or loved one who needs consistent care, it’s important not to feel overburdened. This can lead to elder abuse, even if it’s as simple as forgetting appointments or medications for the person you’re caring for.
If you’re seeking caregivers to help you and don’t know where to start, we’re here for you. Contact Assisting Hands Home Care at (224) 258-0736 so we can help you find the right in-home care for your family and schedule.
You and your family can relax and feel confident, knowing your loved one is in good hands.
